'A shocking first half until the end': SSG Landers' 'Batting Champion' Guillermo Heredia also suffers shoulder injury... "It seems Heredia will need two more weeks" [Jamsil Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Another blow has struck the SSG Landers, who endured a disastrous first half. While it is fortunate that the All-Star break allowed them to minimize downtime, this period appears insufficient for a full recovery, deepening their concerns.

Ahead of their 2026 Shinhan SOL KBO League away game against Doosan Bears at Seoul Jamsil Baseball Stadium on the 9th, SSG announced that "Heredia has been excluded from the roster due to a grade 1-2 tear in his left shoulder rotator cuff and will focus on treatment and recovery during the All-Star break."

Heredia reported left shoulder pain after completing the Doosan game on the 7th. He missed the game on the 8th and underwent hospital examinations, from which he received the distressing news.

The club explained, "To ensure a thorough assessment of his condition, a follow-up examination is scheduled for two weeks later, and the precise return schedule will be determined based on the results of that re-examination."

Heredia has been a valuable foreign hitter for SSG, wearing their uniform for four consecutive seasons since 2023. He showcased exceptional batting in 2024, even earning the batting title, and boasts a career batting average of 0.330.

This season, before his injury, he appeared in all 84 games played by the team, recording a .282 batting average (94 hits in 333 at-bats), 15 home runs, 75 RBIs, 42 runs scored, a .336 on-base percentage, a .462 slugging percentage, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 0.798. Notably, with a .336 batting average in scoring position, he has emerged as a decisive problem-solver, ranking third in RBIs. He is also a standout defensive player, having won the KBO Gold Glove Award for left fielder three consecutive years.

Manager Lee Seung-yong stated, "He will undergo a re-examination in two weeks, but it may take longer than that." The team has already replaced Mitch White and Anthony Venegas with Thomas Hatch and Pedro Avila, respectively. With no more substitution cards available, they are now looking for temporary replacements until Heredia returns.

The manager added, "After the first half concludes, we will consult with the front office, and a decision is expected to be made within that framework." While nothing is finalized yet, club officials indicate that they have already begun exploring potential temporary replacement players.

On this day, SSG lined up its starting lineup as follows: Jung Jun-jae (second baseman), Kim Sung-wook (left fielder), Choi Jeong (designated hitter), Go Myeong-jun (third baseman), Oh Tae-gon (first baseman), Chae Hyun-woo (right fielder), Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder), Jo Hyung-woo (catcher), and Park Sung-han (shortstop) to face opposing starting pitcher Jacklog. Hatch will take the mound for SSG, aiming for his second win of the season.

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*This content was translated by AI.